3 November 2008: The Palace of Auburn Hills, Detroit, MI, USA

From WikiColdplay

The Palace of Auburn Hills, Detroit, 3rd November 2008

Setlist

Photos

Photos from this show can be found at Coldplaying.com in the Gallery thread for Detroit. http://www.coldplaying.com/forum/gallery/showgallery.php/cat/1545

Videos

Videos from this show can be found in the first post of the Coldplaying forum live thread for this show at http://www.coldplaying.com/forum/showthread.php?t=44937

Discussion

All post-show discussion for this show at the forum thread: http://www.coldplaying.com/forum/showthread.php?t=44937

Fan Reviews

All fan reviews have been submitted to us by the members of Coldplaying.com[1], unless stated otherwise.

The 'Best Birthday Ever'!

Best Birthday Ever Part 1

First off, I want to say thank you to rivertop - April and Joe - without them none of this would have been possible. They offered me a free ticket and free plane ride and the Coldplay karma took care of the rest.

What an incredible day. The flight was smooth, the weather, was beautiful, the company fantastic.

We got to the venue a little after one where we met up with kspillers2 - Kelly. We kind of just stood around waiting to see someone. After awhile we noticed a couple of guys down by the parking dock barricades. I thought one guy looked like Bash so Lori and I walked down to say hi. We approach them and it goes something like this:

Mel: Hey! Are you Bash? Bash: Yeah, how do you know that? Mel: I know everything. Bash: Well, then who is this guy? *he points to the guy standing next to him who I have NEVER seen before* Mel: *laughing* uhhhhhhh, ok I don't know EVERYTHING!! Bash: Come on, this is Big Tony Mel: *makes mental note to remember the name Big Tony* Big Tony, huh? Ok. Well, we know you because we were at the Today Show in New York and on the second night in Chicago you gave us one of Will's drumsticks. Bash: *look of recognition crosses his face* Oh yeah, wait, are you the girls with the sign? Mel and Lori:*in unison* YES then Lori whips out the Reign of Jonny banner and he remembers it* Bash: Yeah, yeah, ok. Mel: So are the guys soundchecking today? Bash: No, they won't be here until later - probably about the time doors open. Mel: Ok, thanks. *Big Tony is talking into the walkie talkie thing on his shoulder*

We say bye then they walk away. At some point during that exchange I made a point to tell them that we had made a banner just for the roadies and that they would see it later. He laughed and said oookay.

Best Birthday Ever Part 2

So, we wait and wait and wait. About 3 or 4 in the afternoon - help me out Kelly or Lori with times - a guy comes out to smoke. He is leaning on the barricade looking over to where security has told us we can stand so I wave to him and he gives me a little eyebrow action. Then he walks around the barricades and over to us. He says its really cool we are out here and that his name is Peter and he is the guy who sets all their dressing rooms up. We ask him what time he thinks they'll be coming in and he looks at his phone and says he thinks it'll be close to six. We tell him that we'll be at the Orlando and Ft. Lauderdale shows and that maybe we'll see him there. He tells us he'll try to get some signed stuff for us and that he'll try and come out and give us some sign when they are getting close to the venue. We see Peter after that but he is busy doing stuff.

Best Birthday Ever Part 3

A little before six a lot of activity starts happening and they move that security truck that was blocking the entrance to the loading dock. We stand up and hold our signs...by this time there is a small crowd of people who don't know what is going on but are standing there because we are. The SUVs and vans come in and we hold our signs and wave. No windows come down, no one comes out. We knew they wouldn't but.....we were still hoping.

So we kept standing there - hoping maybe Peter would come out with something. A few people left when the doors opened - including Joey and April who were with us (they were picking up some tix at will call) - all of a sudden there are two ladies - Jasmine and EJ - walking over to us. They approach us and ask if we have tickets and we just can't lie so we say yes. Then Jasmine says - well are they good seats??? Then she goes on to explain that Chris saw us standing out there and he asked Jasmine and EJ to go out and MAKE SURE we had really great seats for the show!!!!! Jasmine grabbed the tickets I had and I started to panic wondering what she was going to give me. She asks how many of us are together and I say five and she says - great that's gonna work out perfectly. She hands me five tickets and when I look down at them I realize she has just given me row 3 (which was really row 2) on Jonny's side. I nearly fell over. We thanked them profusely and asked them to thank Chris for us and how sweet it was that he wanted to make sure we had great seats. Jasmine and EJ left and the squealing ensued. April heard screaming and came running and couldn't believe she had missed the ticket exchange. Pretty sure this was the point I was clutching onto the tickets and had to sit down on the curb because I was in shock. And then I couldn't help but cry tears of joy. Best Birthday present EVER!!!!!!!!!

Best Birthday Ever Part 4

So after we gathered ourselves together and the shock had worn off some we headed into the venue...and straight to the bathroom! All afternoon we had been afraid to leave and go to the bathroom - we were so afraid we would miss them.

We got some things to eat and drink and then walked around until we got to the Oxfam table - Chavi, Carla, Noelia, Christa...do I have your attention???? So I asked a volunteer if Pete was around since I didn't see him but he was off checking on volunteers probably. So we waited a little bit and voila, Pete arrives. Pete is tall....and cute...and has the loveliest accent....anyyyyyyywayyy. Lori and I introduced ourselves and let him know we would see him Friday in Orlando. He looked waaaay confused since it was Monday and there we were in Detroit so we told him a little of the story and that Chris had upgraded us to 3rd row. Pete wished me a happy birthday and told us he'd see us Friday.

So then we had to go and find where these seats were. Imagine our surprise when we get down there and realize that row 2 is first row and that our row 3 seats are actually second row!!!!! We sit and it is hilarious and awesome to hear people screaming as they are escorted to their upgraded seats!!!

Sleepercar comes on and they are rocking and I think they are pretty good for an opening act. Before their set is over Lori and I go visit the ladies room one more time before the show. When we get back, they are just ending their set.

Best Birthday Ever Part 5

The camera guy gets to his post in front of us and he sees the roadie sign we have. He thinks its funny. Once we see roadies we recognize - Matt first - we get out the roadie banner and security lets us approach the barricade to hold it up. He sees it but is busy as hell actually working - he gives us a little "rock on" hand gesture and carries on. Then the camera guy asks to see the banner again and we hold it up and then I see this girl on stage who is giving me the thumbs up and looks really excited.

Before I know it she is in front of us asking who has the roadie banner. I say that its mine and she tells Lori and me to bring the banner and come with her for a minute. So we just get up as fast as we can and follow her. She flashes her VIVA badge at all the security guards and motions that we are with her. She takes us back to this little roadie area where a table is set up with some laptops and there are a bunch of roadies just hanging out. One of them says - hold up the banner - so we do and he says - that is awesome. The girl roadie - I don't even know her name - asks if she can get a picture and I feel certain she just means for the roadies to hold the banner but she wants us in the picture too - and holding the banner!! We get pics and they thank us for the banner and we thank them for the awesome job they do every show.

We go back to our seats and wait. Someone - security guy or cameraman - in front of us tell us Coldplay is going to come on at 8:40pm. Jay-Z song comes on right at 8:40 and of course then Blue Danube and then the boys are on.

Best Birthday Ever Part 6

We are sitting in the EMPTY FRONT ROW SEATS and right as LIT comes on, a couple walks up and of course we are in their seats. This chick in the couple was so high - most of the concert she had her back turned to the stage!!! WTF??? The rest of the concert they were sucking face....I don't know how they got those tickets but it was a total waste...I digress...sorry.

The boys sound amazing. LIT gives me chills. I can not believe we are second row. I think I was still in shock. The curtain goes up. From the very beginning of Violet Hill it is very clear to Lori and me that Jonny is on FIRE. You can almost feel the energy coming from him. It is ridiculous. I think half the concert we just stood there with our jaws on the floor watching Jonny just rock the fuck out.:guitar:

Clocks was awesome as always. It never fails to just blow me away. I managed to get video of some of this one and was starting to film IMP when the security guy came over to tell me I couldn't film. Strike one. Crap. Oh well. IMP is one of my favorites so I just enjoy it! Then as Jonny makes his way to the Ramp of Love I realize that the security guy is too busy with the people next to the ramp so I manage to film the whole ending on the ramp. Sweet.

Best Birthday Ever Part 7

I actually really enjoyed Speed of Sound...the magic balls looked really cool changing colors. Then after SOS we were sure they were going right into COL but Chris asked for the lights to come up. He said hello to the crowd. At some point (was it before this? help me out Lori and Kelly) he said the thing about it being Jonny's daughter's (Violet's) first birthday...was that right at the beginning?? Anyway, he was talking and saying hello and the lights were up so I held up my birthday banner and he looked right at me and pointed his finger at my banner and said "Happy Birthday." I mouthed a thank you to him and looked directly over at Jonny (for some reason) who also had a big grin plastered on his face. I had NO EXPECTATION he would say anything...it was really so I could try to get them to play Shiver! HA! No Shiver, but I'll take the birthday wishes.

Clearly, during COL I was out of my mind. I could see what Lori was filming next to me and that didn't help with the excitement level. COL is great live and why they didn't have it on the setlist from the beginning is beyond my comprehension.

Chinese Sleep Chant was very high energy. Again, Jonny was giving it everything he had. Then 42, which is probably my favorite live performance, just blew me away. Chris was spastic dancing. Jonny was dancing and rocking out all over the place. Will was beating the shit out of his drums. Guy - who I could barely see from where I was - was definitely in the groove - swaying pretty good as he played.

Fix You was good. Chris was so cute leaning down over his piano with this look on his face like - come on guys you gotta sing this next part really loud. We were all singing out as loud as we could but I really have no idea how it compared to other crowds. It didn't seem like the crowd as a whole was that loud.

Strawberry Swing I love, such a great song. Pretty sure all I did was stare at Jonny while he played.

Then they moved down to the B-stage for GPASUYF and Talk. We could see them but they seemed so far away. I love the B-stage set. I only wish they were doing the whole songs instead of the abbreviated versions.

I can not stress enough how absolutely stunningly beautiful The Hardest Part is when it is Chris on the piano. Again, he dedicated it to Jennifer Hudson in the wake of her family's tragedy - very sweet of him. I have new appreciation for that song since Chris started performing it like that. Beautiful.

Postcards From Faraway...maybe everyone else knew this but the crowd is so focused on Chris that I was stunned to turn to the stage and see Jonny playing during this song. Maybe I never listened to it close enough but I had no idea Jonny was playing during that song. I thought it was just Chris on the piano so that was a nice surprise.

Viva La Vida is just jaw dropping. It is a great song on its own but add in the crowd singing and the lights and that song just gets in your blood. And since I was directly in front of Jonny I didn't turn around to see what kind of nutty dancing Chris was doing. I just watched Jonny singing and playing...lovely.

Maybe its the Chicago connection - since they filmed the video there and I was there also - but Lost! is awesome. I liked it on the album but there is something about it live. Maybe the drums are louder - I'm not sure - but I just LOVE this song live.

Best Birthday Ever Part 8

Next, the boys all walked past us and down Jonny's ramp to get up to the C-stage. In Chicago, they didn't have the big screens up in the middle of the arena so it was nice to be able to see them up close even though they were really so far away. I couldn't stop laughing at the guy who was almost directly behind Chris. He kept reaching out to touch Chris and it looked like Chris was trying to shrug him off a couple of times. The Scientist is nearly tear inducing. Wonderful. I do lean over and tell Lori something like - Bless his heart he really doesn't play the harmonica well at all. But hey - I'll give him points for trying.

Death Will Never Conquer is so lovely. Will's voice is perfect for this song and he sings it so well. Right at the start, there was some little hiccup and I actually thought Will had broken a guitar string but he and Chris had a little laugh and they carried on. And before that Will had something on his cheek that Chris wiped off for him. Awwww.

DWNC finished and they said goodbye and the VLV remix came on. It felt awfully long until they came back and the opening strains of Politik was pounded into our souls. I texted Angie to tell her it was on and her reply was "Bounce!" - I showed it to Lori and we bounced! Great fun and such an awesome song. This should NEVER leave Coldplay's setlist - EVER.

A let down washed over me as I realized Lovers in Japan was next. The show would be over soon. But thankfully it was temporary. My mood lifted as the song began and I watched Jonny just enjoying the song and the crowd and later on lifting his face to the sky and watching the butterflies fall. I think everyone who has gone so far has that little snapshot in their mind of seeing those butterflies fall....sigh.

DAAHF is like a warm fuzzy for the concert goer. The show is ending but you somehow feel ok about it. The singing at the end gives me chills and it was especially chuckle inducing to watch Jonny concentrate very hard on playing his part while the others were singing.

The song ended and they put down their instruments and began clapping for us. Lori and I held up the Reign of Jonny banner and he saw it but was on the move. Guy came over and I thought I had missed him when I remembered I had our homemade Reign of Guy sign so I held that up really fast and thankfully he looked back in our direction and saw it and smiled and gave us a little clap. Then they were bowing and leaving the stage.

Best Birthday Ever Part 9

But don't despair....they were back soon and all of a sudden Yellow was rocking - a great way to play that song live.

Yellow ended and the boys waved a final time and were gone. The lights went blue and The Escapist came on. The crowd was still cheering but as soon as the black curtain started coming down we knew it was over.

Matt was no where to be seen so hopes of getting Jonny's setlist or a pick dwindled. A roadie blowing butterflies off the stage with a leaf blower stepped to the edge and I asked him for a setlist. He looked around before pulling a folded one out of his pocket. I thanked him and then we immediately caught sight of Bash at the drum kit. With Joey's help we all screamed for Bash who THREW a drumstick at us. It is a wonder someone wasn't injured! Joey caught it and graciously gave it to me for my birthday...ok so I yanked it out of his hand...but damn it - it was my birthday!

After that we said goodbye to Kelly and made our way to our car. We got Lori settled in at her hotel and then headed back to the airfield. Our flight home was smooth and at 1:30am I was asleep in bed.

It was such an amazing day with amazing friends. Coldplay was incredible - for many reasons. I'll never forget that day.

The End

[melanieau]

First of all, it was the best concert i have ever been to. there were not any huge surprises but i words cants express what this concert was like. Coldplay playing in Detroit Rock City!! I came within 20 yards or less when Death will never conquer and The scientist. The crowd was nuts. I was nuts. thats all i have to say. thank you COLDPLAY

Viva La Coldplay

[ColdplayCold]

I just got back from the CP concert in Detroit and my ears are still ringing I loved, loved, loved it! I knew exactly what was going to happen (butterflies during Lovers, going into the nosebleed section, etc.), but I was thrilled beyond words! It was awesome! I especially loved how Chris dedicated "The Hardest Part" to Jennifer Hudson. Seriously, that was thoughtful.

I'll be posting pics (and crappy vids) soon. My feet are killing me right now and I just want to sleep.

Oh, and btw, I worried about nothing regarding bringing a camera. Security didn't check for it nor did they care to. Ha.

Anyway, glad to hear you all had a fantastic time!

[alsisla]

Life in technicolor - I got side seats and was able to see them before the thin black curtain was pulled away
Violet Hill - MY TOP 3 of the night, the DRUMMING was excellent and really engaging
CLOCKS - I THOUGHT this was overrated and a bit crapish but it was STUNNING live
In my place - now I don't love this on the album so much but LIVE it was AMAZING, Chris let the audience chant a bit during the song and it was one of the best of the night
Chinese sleep chant - The audience was really STONE DEAD for this one, although I was excited to see it live as it happens to be one of my favorites
Fix you - the whole audience sang throughout the song
Strawberry swing - not as good as it is on the record, but it's my favorite Coldplay song so it was obviously amazing to see it live

Side Stage*God put a smile on your face (partial techno) - I thought this was a bit strange, but it worked in a strange way...then again I'm not a huge fan of the original anyway

Talk (partial techno) - I would've liked to hear the regular version and in full, but it was nice to just hear it at all
the hardest part (instrumental) - Chris DEDICATED it to JENNIFER HUDSON, it took me a bit by surprised but it was really nice of him of course...only Will and Chris performed the song as usual

Main Stage*Viva La Vida - after a bit of a lull in the show this brought everyone back up and it was certainly one of their biggest hits for a reason

Lost! - One of my favorites of the night! It's certainly best when live...especially those ending notes give me chills

Side Stage

The scientist (acoustic) - he went into the audience and it was a nice change of pace for such a big hit
Death will never conquer (Will singing) - Will did a great job and I very much like his accent, he got a warm reception
Viva la vida remix interlude - great remix...and transition into one of the last sets

Main stage

Politik - I love this - those drums just came out of nowhere
LOVERS IN JAPAN - not sure if it was in THIS spot of the set list, but I'm so glad they did this instead of "Yes" which would have slowed the show down a bit, it was an energetic performance

Death and all his friends

Encore

Yellow - it was a nice performance, but I would've preferred them to do a different song as an encore.

The Escapist

OVERALL it was a really great show and Chris is certainly an amazing performer and I didn't really ever lose interest so it definitely kept the excitement going in for the most part. Chris also said he was glad to say it was the "last day of the Bush administration" which obviously led to many cheers. And the show itself went by at WARP SPEED...

I'm a bit surprised they only did ONE song from Parachutes, but they covered most of Viva so that's what counts I guess. In conclusion, I'd see them again in a heartbeat!

[Death Hill]

Okay yall......I'm back from my 6 hour Detroit drive back to Chicago....I had to really decompress after such an exhausting exciting eventful 24 hours.. Here it is in a nutshell

Seeing the concert with Mel & Lori and April was fantastic....the primo seats for us from Chris?- Killer Mel & Lori's backstage trip and personal birthday wish,? Priceless. The show was great and I thought Chris' voice was extra super gorgeous with some beautifully held falsetto's that I haven't heard in those spots before. But, the highlight for me? Chris singing my lyric banner .........We held it high during LIJ. Mel tells me that at the song intro Chris came over and crouched down to give it a good read (it WAS a bit long-oops AND it was sort of in front of my own face) and then he sort of pinched his nose like" OK got it" Then he came over and damn if he didn't bend right down in front of me and point at it and sing it...Aaaaaawwww...My little cwissie sang to us!!!!!!!

I haven't even searched youtube yet to see if anyone happened to be filming during Lovers. Crossing my fingers, and hoping someone will give me a heads up if they see one. I really do believe there was some good ColdplayCarma flowin again that night. Though I don't have a ton of posts here here, I am here pretty much every day checking all the threads and enjoying the awesome community of people who love THE BEST BAND IN THE WORLD!!! I'm glad I got to share it with dedicated superfans Mel & Lori, and Mel's fantastic friend April !!-Wooohooo April & Joe!!!

[kspillers2]

Media Reviews

Coldplay returns to Detroit with lights, epic sound

It was an evening of pretty melodies, plaintive piano ballads and arena-sized charisma as Coldplay stepped into the Palace of Auburn Hills Monday night.

The English quartet arrived at the Palace with an increasingly valid claim to the title of world’s biggest rock band, delivering the latest in a line of stellar Detroit shows for a multigenerational crowd of about 13,330.

Coldplay’s trick is making intimate music sound grand: Monday night, songs such as “Clocks,” “Speed of Sound” and “In My Place” were equal parts lovely and epic, accompanied by an elegant light show and illuminated spheres overhead.

The rapt but relatively low-key Palace audience occasionally broke into full voice to sing along, welcoming both older staples and the more sonically expansive material from the band’s recent “Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends.” Vocalist Chris Martin treated the concertgoers as old friends, slipping into an amiable patter between songs and eliciting roars as he made generous trips to a pair of side-stage ramps.

The new material showed well, most markedly with the jagged-edged suite “42” and a rousing, all-together-now rendition of “Viva La Vida.” Coldplay is quietly learning how to get adventurous without becoming inaccessible.

The group aimed for rock communion with its crowd during the 110-minute show, frequently bringing up the house lights and even sandwiching itself amid some lower-level seats for a quick acoustic set. “We can’t come all the way to Michigan without coming to the back of the room,” Martin quipped to the frantic nearby fans.

As always, the mobile Martin was an easy focus of attention, his shimmering tenor serving up warm melodies over Jonny Buckland’s chiming, ice-white guitar. During a trip to a B stage out on the Palace floor, he apologized for this show’s postponement – it was originally slated for July – and dedicated the poignant “Hardest Part” to grieving fellow star Jennifer Hudson.

Martin is the perfect rock star for an age of no rock stars: affable and approachable, quick to self-deprecate, happier to bond than to bask. At the Palace, swapping between guitar and electric piano, he revealed a sense of showmanship that continues to sharpen. If the breezy demeanor is practiced, it’s getting hard to tell.

Coldplay’s music, even in concert, isn’t muscular enough to lend itself to the verb “rocking,” at least as traditionally understood. But the pumped-up twofer of “Viva La Vida” and “Lost” during the show’s homestretch certainly came close — an emotional cascade in a set that skillfully pushed the right buttons at the right times.

It wasn’t the best Coldplay concert Detroit has seen: That honor still belongs to the band’s 2005 show under the stars at DTE Energy Music Theatre. But it was good — very good — from a band that seems positively empowered by its own success.

http://www.freep.com/article/20081103/ENT04/81104004

Coldplay makes up for cancelled show

Coldplay is often dismissed as being square, and doesn't pass the muster of the hipster tastemakers who decide what is cool and what is uncool.

If that's the case, then Monday night at the Palace of Auburn Hills the British foursome made the case that coolness is overrated. The sold-out crowd of 13,330 - a rarity in these times of economic woe - seemed to agree.

During a joyous, grand and sometimes magical 95-minute set, Coldplay proved that arena rock spectacle doesn't have to involve pyrotechnics or fire, just a whole lot of heart.

Led by frontman Chris Martin, wearing a colorful revolutionary war-style costume that appeared to have been lifted from the wardrobe closet of a local high school's theatre class, the band launched into "Life in Technicolor" and "Violet Hill," both from this year's "Viva la Vida," one of the year's sturdiest rock albums.

The band, mounting its most extensive and lavish production to date, was innovative in its presentation throughout. Images and live video were projected onto a handful of "puffer spheres," globe-shaped bulbs that hung above the stage and the crowd. Elsewhere, laser beams shot over the crowd during "Clocks," while an old-timey television showed video of the group on-stage.

Monday's concert was a make-up date from a planned July show that was scrapped, along with a handful of other early tour dates, due to production concerns. But while that term is often used as a scapegoat for other internal tour problems, this time it seemed legitimate, as the show utilized crisp, tightly executed production elements throughout its set.

The band walked out to an auxiliary stage at the foot of the crowd to perform an electronified, slightly sci-fi version of "God Put a Smile on Your Face," and later jogged through the audience to a satellite stage at the back of the house, where they performed an acoustic version of "The Scientist" amid a sea of fans.

Drummer Will Champion proved himself to be an essential and underrated force in the band, his pounding drums driving "Clocks," "Lost!" and a hammering "Politik."

For his part, Martin was candid and loose, slipping a lyric about Kid Rock and Eminem into "Politik" and apologizing to fans for the inconvenience of cancelling the July concert date. Acknowledging the Presidential election, he announced "we're happy to be with you on what we're calling the last night of the Bush administration," and he dedicated "The Hardest Part" to Jennifer Hudson.

The show's peak came during "Lovers in Japan," as confetti butterflies rained down from the ceiling onto the audience. Any band can make it rain confetti, but it takes a special group of lads to shower butterflies onto an audience. The always dependable "Yellow," the band's very first hit, closed the show, as Martin and his bandmates bowed to the audience at its close.

The obvious comparison to Coldplay is U2, who also use their earnestness as their chief weapon in their rock and roll arsenal. But while Coldplay doesn't have the grandeur or the scope of their heroes, Monday proved they're well their way to one day being able to wear their crown. Just give them time.

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081104/ENT04/811040394